2011 CAMA E-Brief Partner:

August 10, 2011

Left to right: : Mayor Bill Robertson, Town of Okotoks, Jacques DesOrmeaux, CAMA President and Rick Quail, Municipal Manager, Town of Okotoks.  (Photo taken at the June 1st, 2011 CAMA Awards of Excellence Luncheon in Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Town of Okotoks Water Management Plan

An innovative water management plan has allowed the Town of Okotoks to achieve one of the lowest water consumption rates per capita in Canada while experiencing population growth.  The plan is a model for sustainable development and regional environmental stewardship.

The Town of Okotoks developed an innovative Water Management Plan (WMP) with bold water conservation targets in 2002, at a time when there was a perception of water abundance in Southern Alberta.  In 2006, when the Alberta Government established a moratorium on new water licenses on the South Saskatchewan River Basin, Okotoks found itself in a unique situation.

The community was experiencing rapid population growth with a more constrained water supply from the Sheep River.  Luckily, the main objective of the town’s Water Management Plan was to provide a safe and reliable water supply to the residents, institutions and businesses now and into the future. 

The key strategies of the WMP were to promote community wide water conservation and efficiency.  The plan set a bold responsible water consumption target of 318L (70 imperial gallons) per capita per day.  Eight specific goals are contained within the WMP, each stating specific targets which are annually evaluated, reported and revised.

Through vigorous sustainable water management practices, the Town reduced its annual gross water consumption form 329L per capita/day in 2009 to 295L per capita/day in 2010 while its population grew from 21,890 people to 23,240 people.  Water management has become a strong part of Okotoks’ corporate identity and community culture over the past eight years and the community is well positioned for the future.

Mr. Owen Tobert, City Manager for The City of Calgary (and CAMA Past President) attended the Town of Okotoks Council meeting on June 27th, 2011 and presented this award to Mayor Robertson and Council.

Congratulations to the Town of Okotoks on this achievement!

How Long Have you Worked in Public Service and Municipal Management? 

In January 2012, CAMA will be implementing a Long Service Recognition Awards Program to recognize and celebrate CAMA members’ dedication to public service and municipal management.  These awards are based on the number of years of full-time, paid employment in a local government in a management capacity (as a Chief Administrative Officer or reporting directly to a Chief Administrative Officer).  They are granted at ten years and given in five year increments and presented each Spring (commencing in May 2012).   A Special Long Standing CAO Service Award will also be awarded to any CAMA member that has been in the position of Chief Administrative Officer or City Manager for twenty-five years or more and who has been a member of CAMA for at least ten years (as of January 1st of the nomination year).

Recently, you were contacted by the CAMA National Office requesting the number of years of service that you have worked in municipal government (as a CAO or reporting directly to a CAO).  If you have not already done so, please provide us with the correct number of years of service as at December 31st, 2011 ([email protected]).

Please note that all full-time appointed service with any type of local government organization counts towards a service award (as a CAO or reporting directly to a CAO), even if that service was prior to actual membership with CAMA.  Service does not have to be consecutive or with the same municipality.

Watch for more details on this program in January!

 DO YOU HAVE ANY SPEAKER SUGGESTIONS? 

The 41st Annual CAMA Conference will be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at the Hilton Garden Inn (for accommodations) and the TCU Place Convention Centre (for Conference sessions) from Monday, May 28, 2012 to Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

President Jim Toye and the Program Sub-Committee have been working hard to develop the theme for this event.  The proposed theme is "Emerging Best Practices" with the suggested sub-themes of Community Engagement, Performance Management and Benchmarking and International.  Do you have any speaker suggestions?  Please submit any names and ideas to Ms. Jennifer Goodine ([email protected] ) by August 15, 2011.  We would love to hear from you.  The full Conference Program and on-line registration will be available in February 2012.

ACCOMMODATIONS

CAMA has secured a block of rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn located at 90-22nd Street East which is a half block from TCU Place.  The following special Conference rates will be offered:

Type of Room - Single and Double Rate
Double Queen - $209.00
One King - $209.00
Spa Suite - $309.00
Executive Suite - $369.00

**Please note that the above rates are subject to applicable taxes.

Check-in time is after 3:00 p.m. and check out is by 12:00 Noon.  Complimentary high speed internet is available.

To make a room reservation, please contact the Hotel at 306-244-2311 or through the toll free number at 1-877-782-9444. To ensure the special rate quoted above, please identify yourself as attending the CAMA Conference.  The room block will be open until April 26, 2012.  Reservations can also be made on-line by visiting the CAMA website at   http://www.camacam.ca/en/conference/2012AnnualConference.asp

TOURISM SASKATOON

For more information on the City of Saskatoon visit their website at http://www.tourismsaskatoon.com/ or call 306-242-1206 or 1-800-567-2444 ext. 15.

ICMA is looking for a CAMA member to sit on the Awards Panel that evaluates and ranks the nominations that are received for their Annual Awards Program.  The panel meets as a group at the Annual Conference.  Those members who are unable to attend in person may call into the meeting.  The time committment will involve two to three conference calls during the year, mainly in the Spring.  The submissions have to be reviewed and evaluated during April and May.  This can take up to fifteen to twenty hours over the course of six weeks.   In addition to being a CAMA member, you must also have a memership with ICMA.   If you are interested in this position or have any questions, please contact Jennifer Goodine, Executive Director, CAMA National Office (1-866-771-2262 or [email protected]).

ICMA's 97th Annual Conference will be held September 18-21, 2011, in Milwaukee, WI.  Visit http://icma.org/conference for further information. 

CAMAraderie   -   Friendship Amongst a Group of Colleagues

The CAMA Board Directors wishes to thank Mr. Paul Stapleton, Chief Administrator Officer for the City of Fredericton who retired on June 30, 2011 for his overwhelming support of CAMA.   We will be indebted to him for his commitment and vision that has been instrumental in shaping the CAMA Association of today.  Below is an excerpt from a note sent to the Board of Directors from Paul:

The next CAMA Board of Directors meeting will be held from September 7-9, 2011 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.  This meeting will provide the opportunity to discuss plans for the 2012 Conference and discuss the new CAMA Strategic Plan.  The Board will hold their November Board meeting from November 23-25, 2011 in Gatineau, Québec.

Welcome to the following new members:

• Laurie Rudolph, Town Administrator, Town of Pilot Butte, SK
• Nicole Lerat, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Rosthern, SK
• Raegan Funk, Administrator, Town of Herbert, SK
• Ivan Gabrysh, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Warman, SK
• Shauna Bzdel, Town Manager, Town of White City, SK
• Sandra MacArthur, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Osler, SK
• Shelley Funk, Administrator, Town of Dalmeny, SK
• Trent Michelman, Municipal Manager, Town of Outlook, SK
• Tara Kerber, Administrator, Town of Shellbrook, SK
• Scott Hildebrand, City Manager, City of Brandon, MB

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